Eye Injury Setback Rules Craig Kieswetter Out of World Cup

Updated: 11 December 2014 08:04 IST

Craig Kieswetter, who has played 46 times for the England one-day side, suffered a broken nose, a damaged eye socket and cheekbone when a ball crept through the grille of his helmet playing for his county Somerset against Northamptonshire last July.

England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter's hopes of going to the World Cup next year have been dashed after he admitted the eye damaged in a county match last season had not healed properly.

The 27-year-old South Africa-born player -- who was named in England's preliminary squad for the World Cup which gets underway in February in Australia and New Zealand -- may well miss the whole of the 2015 season.

Kieswetter, who has played 46 times for the England one-day side, suffered a broken nose, a damaged eye socket and cheekbone when a ball crept through the grille of his helmet playing for his county Somerset against Northamptonshire last July.

Somerset have said Kieswetter's long-term prognosis is unknown but he is "unlikely" to be fit for next year.

Kieswetter released a statement in which he explained his eyesight was still not 100 percent despite recently playing in South Africa's Twenty20 competition.

"It is really disappointing but my eye is not 100% and this of course is critical in maintaining the levels of performance that I expect of myself.

"I need to make every effort to resolve the matter and have the best specialist help in that regard."